Redknapp wary of pesky Hesky

Harry Redknapp fears Wigan’s much-derided striker Emile Heskey could wreak havoc on Portsmouth’s patched-up FA Cup favourites at Fratton Park on Saturday and lead his own team to Barclays Premier League safety.

Wigan are presently just five points clear of the bottom three, and Pompey boss Redknapp – who looks like being without Lassana Diarra, Hermann Hreidarsson, Niko Kranjcar and the suspended Sulley Muntari and Papa Bouba Diop – knows they will be pinning their hopes on their England striker.

Even though he has scored only twice this season in 22 starts, Heskey, 30, did grab a vital winner against fellow strugglers Bolton two weeks ago and Redknapp insists: “I’m still a massive fan of his.

“You have got to remember that before his latest big injury (a broken foot) he was England’s centre-forward. He may not score that many goals but he’s a real handful up front and can do you damage.

“There are only a few big, old-fashioned England centre-forwards left but for me Heskey’s the one. I would have him in my squad any day. I’ve looked at signing him in the past.

“Look how well he was playing for England until he got injured. He came back into the England team after a long absence and was superb. On his day he’s a test for anybody to play against.”

Redknapp knows Saturday’s game is a tricky one for his sixth-placed side just a week before their Wembley semi-final showdown with West Brom.

He is anxious not to let the FA Cup cloud everyone’s view of the rest of the season and still insists he remains committed to a chase for fifth place even though Everton are seven points ahead and looking certain to earn UEFA Cup football again via that route.

Defeat at Tottenham last week was a disappointment and Pompey will not want to go into the cup tie on the back of two consecutive losses but Redknapp points out: “We had to change the side big-time at Spurs because of injuries and suspensions and we’ll have a few other changes this time, for sure.”

Former Chelsea and Arsenal ace Diarra missed out on his latest French cap against England through his injury while a sore knee stopped Hreidarsson playing for Iceland.

Diarra has been ruled out tomorrow although Redknapp was relieved to learn there is no tear in the hamstring which the little Frenchman injured in training before the Spurs game, but Hreidarsson will need a late test.

Skipper Sol Campbell is back after two weeks out with knee trouble and Jermain Defoe is a definite starter after he was barred by a technicality from facing old club Spurs last week.

Redknapp is concerned about Croatia star Kranjcar, who scored a wonder goal for his country against Scotland in midweek. He has played every game except a Carling Cup tie at Burnley since starting the season late in August after a foot fracture.

Redknapp said: “He’s had a lot of matches – Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday - and it might be time to give him a little rest. He wasn’t asked to come back on Thursday to train after the internationals and neither were our England pair David James and Glen Johnson – but they both did a full session.”